Anchor means for portable building structure

ABSTRACT

A building construction having a geodetic type metal frame and a cover of flexible plastic sheet material, the frame and the cover both being secured to the ground through an elongated plate and anchor rods which are driven through the plate in close relationship therewith into the ground at an angle to the vertical. One group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the frame members and another group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the cover through an adjustable resilient biasing means which permits expansion and contraction of the cover with temperature changes while maintaining tension on the cover. The elongated plate is formed by angle iron and inverted with the first group of anchor rods driven through one side of the plate and the second group of anchor rods driven through the other side of the plate so that the rods are crossed with respect to each other. The anchor rods bear against the elongated plate so that the plurality of anchor rods hold the plate down tightly to the ground.

United States Patent 91 Hemmelsbach Jan. 29, 1974 [75] Inventor: RichardJ. Hemmelsbach, Spring Lake, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Space Age Industries, Inc., West Olive, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,094

[52] U.S. Cl. 135/1 R, 52/63 [51 Int. Cl E04b 1/347 [58] Field ofSearch... 135/1 R, 3 R, 15 P0, 15 PE;

Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGarry & WatersABSTRACT A building construction having a geodetic type metal frame anda cover of flexible plastic sheet material, the frame and the cover bothbeing secured to the ground through an elongated plate and anchor rodswhich are driven through the plate in close relationship therewith intothe ground at an angle to the vertical. One group of anchor rods issecured to the lower end of the frame members and another group ofanchor rods is secured to the lower end of the cover through anadjustable resilient biasing means which permits expansion andcontraction of the cover with temperature changes while maintainingtension on the cover. The elongated plate is formed by angle iron andinverted with the first group of anchor rods driven through one side ofthe plate and the second group of anchor rods driven through the otherside of the plate so that the rods are crossed with respect to eachother. The anchor rods bear against the elongated plate so that theplurality of anchor rods hold the plate down tightly to the ground.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANCHOR MEANS FOR PORTABLE BUILDINGSTRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to building structures. In one of its aspects, theinvention relates to metal frame building structures having improvedmeans for anchoring metal frame members and plastic cover members to theground. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a buildingstructure having a geodetic metal frame and a plastic cover withimproved means for anchoring the plastic cover.

2. State of the Prior Art A relatively new development in buildingstructures employs a geodetic metal framework and a cover of a thick,but flexible, sheet of plastic material such as polyvinylchloride. Suchstructures have been used for swimming pool enclosures, farm storagebuildings, garages and the like. These building structures areeconomically attractive and are relatively portable, minimizingconstruction time and labor.

Heretofore, the buildings have been anchored by securing frame membersand covers to eye bolts which have been set to concrete. For thispurpose, the covers have at the ground level sleeves or slings throughwhich a rod passes. The rod also passes through the eye bolts whichextend into the sleeves through openings therein.

The cement base is very satisfactory but is costly and time consumingfor some installations. In many instances, a truly portable building isdesired with the building positioned on bare earth without a cementbase. In these installations, helieally shaped augers have been used toanchor the frame members and the covers to the ground. The augers arescrewed vertically into the ground along parallel lines, one line ofaugers anchoring the frame members and another line of augers anchoringthe covers. The augers have eyes at the top portions thereof forsecuring the frame members and the covers in the same manner as the eyebolts which are set into cement. It has been found that due to humanerror, ground rock and the like, it is virtually impossible to place theaugers in the ground in a truly straight line. Some of the augers goastray during the process of placing them in the ground with the resultthat the top portions are out of line. The frame members must be bentout of line in securing the frame to the augers to accomodate the augermisalignment, the bending resulting in some undesirable stress on theframe members. Further, the frame members are usually assembledcompletely before the frame is anchored to the ground. The process ofanchoring these frame members to the augers may require movement of theframe members and corresponding stress or movement of the augers. Thetops of the augers have a certain amount of flexibility and movement ofthe frame members during anchoring may tend to loosen the augers incertain types of soils.

The cover attachment is less critical but misalignment of the augerresults in difficulty in getting the rod through the eyes of the augertop portions. The system for anchoring the cover to the ground as wellas to cement presents still further problems. The cover expands andcontracts with temperature changes. Over a period of time, the cover wassubject to stretching during colder periods and thereby developingstress points at which tears can develop more easily. Further, thestretched cover was subject to undesirable sagging when it expandedduring warm weather. The sagging cover was not only aestheticallyupappealing but provided slack for flapping by the wind. The flappingpromotes deterioration of the cover.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, an improvedanchoring system is provided for building structures in which structuralframe members are secured together to form an exterior supportingframework and a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends overthe framework. The improved anchoring system comprises a rigid elongatedplate extending along at least one edge of the building, a first anchormeans extending through the elongated plate into the ground and engagingthe elongated plate to restrain movement of the plate with respect tothe first anchoring means. The first anchor means comprise, for example,a plurality of rods which project through the elongated plate along itslength. The framework is secured to the first anchor means. A secondanchor means extends through the elongated plate into the ground and atan angle with respect to the first anchor means, the second anchor meansengaging the elongated plate to restrain movement of the plate withrespect to the second anchor means. The second anchor means alsocomprise a plurality of rods which prject through the elongated plate atspaced points along the length thereof different from the first anchormeans rods. A bottom portion of the cover is secured to the secondanchor means. The first and second anchor means are thus coupledtogether by the elongated plate. Holes providing close tolerance betweenthe anchor means rods and the elongated plate are provided as a guidefor the rods. The elongated plate provides not only a guide so that eachof the anchor means can be aligned along a predetermined straight line,but also provides a means of interlocking each of the anchor means rodsto each other so that each is held by each other and by the ground.

Preferably, the first and second anchor means are crossed with respectto the other with both anchor means being positioned at an acute angleto the verti cal. Further, the elongated plate is desirably angularlyshaped providing a peak and two sloping legs, with one anchor meansextending through each of the sloping legs.

Still further according to the invention, the cover is secured to ananchor means through a resilient biasing means to permit expansion andcontraction of the cover with respect to the anchor means. The spring issecured to the bottom portion of the cover through a rigid adjustablemember, such as a chain, so that the tension of the spring can beadjusted to compensate for differences between anchor means and thecover attaching means. The tensioning means permits the cover to expandand contract without stretching or developing slack of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having an anchoring systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view along the lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings, there is illustrated a building 12 having a covering 14 of aflexible plastic sheet material such as polyvinyl chloride. The building12 has an end 16 with a door 18 therein. In FIG. 1, the plastic cover ispartially broken away to illustrate a geodetic framework or tubularmetal members 20 which support the cover.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cover 14 extends down to the level of theground 26 terminating in an outwardly extending runoff flap 22. Crushedstone 24 is positioned on top of the runoff flap 22 to hold the flap inposition. A sling 28 of vinyl material is heat sealed together and tothe inside surface of the cover 14 at a bottom portion thereof butspaced upwardly from the level of the ground 26. The sling 28 extendsalong the entire length of the side walls of the building and issubstantially parallel to the level of the ground 26. A rod 32 iscarried by the sling 28. A plurality of openings are provided at spacedlocations along the bottom of the sling 28 for exposure of the rod 32.

An L-shaped elongated ground plate 34 is positioned within the wall ofthe building and runs along the entire length of the sides of thebuilding adjacent the bottom of the cover 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the ground plate 34 is spaced slightly inwardly of the cover 14. Aplurality of holes 36 are provided on each downwardly sloping leg of theground plate 34 to receive anchor rods 38 and 48. Anchor rod 38 extendsthrough the holes 36 in the legs of the ground plate 34 adjacent thecover 14 and well into the ground 26. The anchor rod 38 is substantiallyperpendicular to the leg of the plate 34 and at an angle to thevertical. A hook portion 40 at the top of the anchor rod 38 ispositioned tightly against the leg of the ground plate 34. The anchorrods 38 and 48 have a straight lower shaft which is driven straight intothe ground, the movement of the shafts being guided by the holes in theelongated plate 34. The anchor rods have a diameter very close to thatof the holes so that when the rods are driven down tightly against theelongated plate 34, the anchor rods engage the plate 34, eliminatingmovement of the plate 34 with respect to the anchor rods 38 and 48. Theanchor rods 38 are spaced along the entire length of the plate 34 atregular intervals such as, for example, two feet.

A tension spring 42 has a hook at one end which engages the hook portion40 of anchor rod 38 and a hook at the other end which engages a chain44. An S hook 46 supports the chain and engages the rod 32. The cover 42is thus anchored to the ground through anchor rod 38. tension adjuster42., chain 44, and rod 32. The tension adjuster 42 provides a resilientbiasing for the cover to permit expansion and contraction of the plasticcover with temperature changes. The chain 44 permits an adjustment to bemade between the sling 28 and the level of the ground 26 in the eventthat the ground is not completely flat or in the event that there aresome minor differences in the height of the sling 28 above the cover 14.

The metal framework which supports the cover comprises a plurality ofmetal rods 20 which have flattened end portions 52. These flattened endportions have holes (not shown) therethrough and are brought together.Bolts extend through the holes in the flattened end portions to hold theframe together. At the bottom of the structure, the rods are broughttogether and bolted together through a bolt 54 and nut 56. The anchorrod 48 is similar or identical in construction with the anchor rod 38and has a hook portion 50 at the top thereof fof receiving the bolt 84.A plurality of anchor rods 48 are provided along the side of thebuilding to extend through the holes 36 in the inside leg of the groundplate 34 for securing the ends of the tubular members 20. The anchorrods 48 are spaced along the plate 34 at regular intervals of, forexample, two feet. The anchor rods 48, however, are staggered withrespect to the anchor rods 38. In like fashion to the anchor rods 38,the anchor rods 48 are driven straight into the ground at an angle tothe vertical and substantially perpendicular to the inside sloping legthrough which it extends. In FIG. 2, a portion of the earth is brokenaway to show the crossed relationship of the two groups of anchor rods.Normally, the anchor rods 48 are driven down so that the hook portion 50abuts the elongated plate 34 for engaging the elongated plate.

Whereas the ground plate 34 has been described as an L-shaped angle ironplate with holes in each side, the plate can take other form so long asit provides separate means for engaging anchoring rods which can bedriven into the ground at different angles to each other. The groundplate can be sectionally placed along the ground or can be onecontinuous piece along the entire Side of the building.

The invention described above provides a simple, effective, yet rapidlyassembled anchoring means for a portable building structure of the typein which a flexible plastic sheet material is used to cover a geodetictype of frame. The linearity of the anchoring system for the building isassured by the use of the ground plate 34. The ground plate providesholes of close tolerance for the anchor rods which are driven into theground. The close tolerances between the anchor rods and the groundplate, and the crossed relationship between the anchor rods 38 and 48securely and firmly fix the plate 34 to the ground. Further, because ofthe close tolerances between the anchor rods and the plate 34, eachanchor rod is securely held in place by the other anchor rods throughthe ground plate 34. Thus, during the process of securing the bottom ofthe frame members to the anchor rods 48, the anchor rods cannot be movedor loosened in the soil.

Still further, the anchoring system for the cover provides a strong yetflexible anchoring system for the cover. The cover is held againstupward movement not only by the anchor rods to which it is attached butalso by the weight of the frame and the retantive force of anchor rods48 through the ground plate 34. Thus, the cover is very securely fixedto the ground. Yet, the spring 42 tensions the cover so that it canexpand and contract with changes in temperature without undesirablestretching or development of slack. The chain 44 provides a means foradjusting the distance between the anchoring means for the cover and theattachment. Thus, if the ground level varies somewhat, or the sling 28is not evenly positioned from the bottom of the cover, this differencecan be taken up by the chain 44. This tensioning system for the coverfunctions especially well with the portable units which are fixeddirectly to the ground. However, the same tensioning unit can also beemployed with other anchoring systems in which the building is anchoredto a cement base.

The description of the invention has been with reference to a buildingwhich has been placed directly onto the ground. This system is alsoadaptable to be used with other similar types of soft surfaces,including asphalt, gravel, etc.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. In a building construction in which slructural frame members aresecured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexibleplastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means securesaid cover and said exterior framework to the ground, the improvement insaid securing means comprising:

a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of saidbuilding inside said cover, said plate having a first series of spacedaligned holes and a second series of spaced aligned holes, said secondseries being laterally offset from said first series of said spacedholes;

first anchor means extending through said first series of holes into theground, said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate torestrain movement of said elongated plate with respect to said firstanchor means;

means securing said framework to said first anchor means;

second anchor means extending through said second series of holes intothe ground and at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; saidsecond anchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrainmovement of said plate with respect to said second anchor means; and

means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchormeans; whereby said cover and said framework are securely anchored tothe ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.

2. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said first andsecond anchor means are crossed with respect to each other.

3. A building construction according to claim 2 wherein said secondanchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.

4. A building construction according to claim 3 wherein said firstanchor means is at an angle with respect to the vertical.

5. A building construction according to claim 2 wherein said first andsecond anchor means are substantially perpendicular to each other andeach of said first and second anchor means is at an acute angle withrespect to the vertical.

6. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said secondanchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.

7. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said coversecuring means comprises a resilient biasing member to permit expansionand contraction of said cover with respect to said anchor means.

8. A building construction according to claim 7 wherein said coversecuring means further comprises a rigid extendable connection fixed tosaid biasing means to adjust the tension of said biasing means and tocompensate for variations in distances between cover portions and saidsecond anchor means.

9. In a building construction in which structural frame members aresecured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexibleplastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means securesaid cover and said exterior framework to the ground, the improvement insaid securing means comprising:

a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of saidbuilding inside said cover, a raised central portion and sloping firstand second elongated side portions which are angularly disposed withrespect to each other; each of said elongated side portions having aseries of spaced aligned holes;

first anchor means extending through a series of holes in said firstelongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground, saidfirst anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement ofsaid elongated plate with respect to said first anchor means;

means secruing said framework to said first anchor means;

second anchor means extending through another series of holes in saidsecond elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the groundand at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; said secondanchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement ofsaid plate with respect to said second anchor means;

said first and second anchor means being substantially perpendicular toeach other and each of said first and second anchor means being at anacute angle to the vertical; and 7 means securing a bottom portion ofsaid cover to said second anchor means; whereby said cover and saidframework are securely anchored to the ground and are linked togetherthrough said elongated plate.

10. A building construction according to claim 9 wherein said firstanchor means is substantially perpendicular to said first elongated sideportion and said second anchor means is substantially perpendicular tosaid second elongated side portion.

11. A building construction according to claim 10 wherein said first andsecond anchor portions comprise a plurality of linear rods with hookshaped top portions.

1. In a building construction in which slructural frame members aresecured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexibleplastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means securesaid cover and sAid exterior framework to the ground, the improvement insaid securing means comprising: a rigid elongated plate extending alongat least one edge of said building inside said cover, said plate havinga first series of spaced aligned holes and a second series of spacedaligned holes, said second series being laterally offset from said firstseries of said spaced holes; first anchor means extending through saidfirst series of holes into the ground, said first anchor means engagingsaid elongated plate to restrain movement of said elongated plate withrespect to said first anchor means; means securing said framework tosaid first anchor means; second anchor means extending through saidsecond series of holes into the ground and at an angle with respect tosaid first anchor means; said second anchor means also engaging saidelongated plate to restrain movement of said plate with respect to saidsecond anchor means; and means securing a bottom portion of said coverto said second anchor means; whereby said cover and said framework aresecurely anchored to the ground and are linked together through saidelongated plate.
 2. A building construction according to claim 1 whereinsaid first and second anchor means are crossed with respect to eachother.
 3. A building construction according to claim 2 wherein saidsecond anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.4. A building construction according to claim 3 wherein said firstanchor means is at an angle with respect to the vertical.
 5. A buildingconstruction according to claim 2 wherein said first and second anchormeans are substantially perpendicular to each other and each of saidfirst and second anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to thevertical.
 6. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein saidsecond anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.7. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said coversecuring means comprises a resilient biasing member to permit expansionand contraction of said cover with respect to said anchor means.
 8. Abuilding construction according to claim 7 wherein said cover securingmeans further comprises a rigid extendable connection fixed to saidbiasing means to adjust the tension of said biasing means and tocompensate for variations in distances between cover portions and saidsecond anchor means.
 9. In a building construction in which structuralframe members are secured together to form a supporting framework, acover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over said framework,and means secure said cover and said exterior framework to the ground,the improvement in said securing means comprising: a rigid elongatedplate extending along at least one edge of said building inside saidcover, a raised central portion and sloping first and second elongatedside portions which are angularly disposed with respect to each other;each of said elongated side portions having a series of spaced alignedholes; first anchor means extending through a series of holes in saidfirst elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground,said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrainmovement of said elongated plate with respect to said first anchormeans; means secruing said framework to said first anchor means; secondanchor means extending through another series of holes in said secondelongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground and at anangle with respect to said first anchor means; said second anchor meansalso engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said platewith respect to said second anchor means; said first and second anchormeans being substantially perpendicular to each other and each of saidfirst and second anchor means being at an acute angle to the vertical;and means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchormeans; whereby said cover and said framework are sEcurely anchored tothe ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.
 10. Abuilding construction according to claim 9 wherein said first anchormeans is substantially perpendicular to said first elongated sideportion and said second anchor means is substantially perpendicular tosaid second elongated side portion.
 11. A building constructionaccording to claim 10 wherein said first and second anchor portionscomprise a plurality of linear rods with hook shaped top portions.